Growing Grateful Kids with Susie Larson (and a giveaway!)
Published March 7, 2010.jpg)
Hi all! Oh….I am excited to introduce you to a friend of mine.
We have been speaking at Hearts at Home conferences together for years (and I get to see her at the national conference this coming weekend. YEAH!)
Author and speaker Susie Larson is a gem. She has a passion for God and compassion for people. Her messages and books have helped countless women to “do life” and do it well.
Susie’s new book Growing Grateful Kids has just released and I’ve invited her to share a little bit about this great resource. And I am inviting you to leave a comment today. You may just win a copy of this insightful and helpful book!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
My husband and I have been married 25 years and have three grown sons (all in their early twenties). Our oldest son Jake works on the business side of the Christian music industry. Our middle son Luke is married to his beautiful wife Kristen; he works full time at a bank and part time as a worship pastor. Our youngest son Jordan is studying to become a surgical nurse. My husband Kevin is a commercial construction manager by day and manages my ministry by night (and weekends). Bless his heart. ? I am an author, speaker, and an on-call radio host for Christian talk radio. Together, Kevin and I serve as advocates for justice on behalf of modern day slaves and human trafficking victims.
Tell us about your new book, Growing Grateful Kids: Teaching Them to Appreciate an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Places.
Even when economic times are tight, our children enjoy an abundance of material possessions. Yet, amidst all this wealth, discontentment and competition seem to be on the rise. Instead of teaching children virtues such as gratefulness and patience, many parents are bending over backwards to get their children the latest and greatest item – or feeling guilty when they can’t. In spite of the currents of materialism and entitlement that flow so strong, it is possible to raise children who are simply grateful. Though teaching perspective and gratitude to our children is critical, it is not difficult.
Why did you want to write this book?
To be completely honest, I never wanted to write a book on parenting. I wanted to protect my kids’ privacy and give them time and space to become the men God wants them to be. But in the last few years, I have been especially burdened with the level of selfishness, entitlement and disrespect I see among children today. Furthermore, moms seem more stressed than ever. When I asked my sons their thoughts on writing this book, without pausing they all said, “Do it, mom; that book needs to be written!” I think I wrote a book that not only equips young moms to raise humble, grateful world-changers, but also one that nourishes the soul of the reader and encourages her personally.
Throughout the book you remind the reader that we cannot impart what we do not possess. Can you explain?
If we never deal with our own fears, insecurities, and hang ups, but we try to teach our children to believe in their divine value, over time, our words will not ring true to them. First God wants to do His work in us before He does it through us. They say that lessons are more often caught than taught. If we parent from a place of conviction and real freedom, our children will be affected by what we teach them.
One of your chapters is titled, “Take Time to Play.” How does taking time to play teach our kids to be grateful?
To me, taking time to play says a lot about the level of faith we possess.
If our children hear us confess that we love and serve a BIG God and yet they see us striving and straining through life, they will come to believe that more is on our shoulders than on God’s. If we can trust God enough to step away from our busy-important lives, to make a fort in the basement, or play a game with our children – even in the most desperate of economic situations – we will give our children a sense of much needed security and that all is well in their world.
What do you want readers to take away from this book?
To answer this question (I hope you don’t mind), I would like to share an endorsement from one of my sample readers. She expressed my deepest desire for my reader:
“Growing Grateful Kids is such a great source of conviction, encouragement, and inspiration to spur me on to finishing this parenting race well and not sputter out along the way. This book compels me to submit my own character to the refining of the Holy Spirit that I may be equipped to impart those lessons onto my children. Thank you, Susie, for taking the time, for submitting in obedience, and writing this down for a generation in desperate need of this kind of parenting book!” –Gail Miller
This is a Hearts at Home book. What is Hearts at Home?
Hearts at Home is an organization that encourages, educates, and equips women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home encourages moms through annual conferences, our extensive website (www.hearts-at-home.org), a free bi-weekly electronic newsletter, a radio program, and an entire line of books designed to meet the needs of moms all over the world!
Any closing thoughts?
I am very excited about the message in this book. It is my prayer that every one who reads it will be nourished, encouraged, and equipped to parent from a place of fullness, conviction, and confidence. Raising grateful, confident kids will be one of the most heroic, important things you do in your lifetime. God’s blessings to you!
Now for the giveaway…
If you would like to win a copy of Susie’s new book, leave a comment today on any aspect of gratefulness. Is it hard for you to be grateful? Your kids? Why is greed easier than gratefulness?When has someone’s thankfulness (or lack thereof) stood out to you? Why would you like this book?
Do tell…..
The post will be left up until Wednesday when the winner will be announced.
Grateful for YOU!!!!!
On Promptings and Posies
Published March 5, 2010Have you ever felt a prompting?
I mean one of those random thoughts that seems to be whispered to your very being saying “You should call so-and-so” or “Hey….how is your friend Julie, by the way? She’d be thrilled if you sent her a handwritten note and a simple bag of her favorite tea tucked inside.”
Many times, these promptings are God’s spirit beckoning us to act; to be his hands and feet. It just might bless the socks off of someone, and confirm for you once again these facts:
- God is real.
- He is still involved in the lives of people.
- He loves to orchestrate details in such a way that people get to see Him work.
- And they also learn to hear His still small voice, obey and as a result, watch another soul be blown away by Jesus’ love for them.
It just happened to me.
Without going into all of the sorted details, suffice it to say that I had a rough week. Not a tragic week. Not a week with bad news or unruly children or difficulty in my marriage.
Just a week of bummers and mishaps and lost time and people who had fires to put out and somehow thought I was the entire New York Fire Department with hoses ready to put out the fires THEY HAD CREATED for themselves since I had nothing better to do!!!!! (This was an unplanned editorial.)
And I had three days of travel for my son’s baseball tryouts for a team near Detroit. And a P31 devotion due. And groceries to get. And a head bleeding when I whacked it on the trunk lock when getting the groceries out of the trunk since no boys we around to help me since they were with the new puppy who had made a deposit on my kitchen floor just before 12 women from my Becoming More Bible study were to arrive after I had returned from getting my hair cut after working out since I still have stinkin’ weight to lose and……
Oh, and did I mention this all took place while I was trying to finalize my notes for next week’s Hearts at Home National Conference? It is on marriage.
Oh yeah…nothin’ puts a big ole bull’s eye on your heart and emotions like trying to talk to ladies about having a marriage that pleases God.
Anyhow–I was in tears Wednesday. My 15-year-old son witnessed my meltdown. He asked why I was crying. What was wrong?
“Nothing..” I replied. And then I promptly proceeded to blubber about how I am such an incompetent mom, awful wife, stink at homeschooling, haven’t cooked a decent meal in days….blah, blah, blah.
He sure got an earful of “nothin’”
(I am preparing him well for his marriage communication reality, don’t ‘cha think?)
Just then, the doorbell rang. I wiped my eyes and answered it. A strange man stood there holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
“Are you Karen?” he inquired.
“Yes sir” I said, trying to stealthily suck the still-dripping snot up my dainty nose.
I smiled, took the flowers from him, went in the house and removed the attached note card, so excited to see who had sent me flowers a full week before my birthday.
It was addressed to ‘Dorothy’.
I began to bawl again. Now, not only had I had a meltdown, then been perked up by the thought of someone sending me flowers, but now had my bubble burst when I noticed they were obviously for the neighbor down the street.
But wait! He had asked if I was Karen! Maybe they were for me after all! I opened the card and it read:
Dorothy, Enjoy your gift in the “Land of Oz” for this next week before you come to Illinois. Love, Glinda
Oh…now I got it.
They were from my precious friend and accountability partner Mary who lives three states away. Ladies… NO ONE I know listens to God like this gal.
Seriously.
My kids call her my freaky friend. Something will happen at our home that desperately needs prayer. A half hour later the phone will ring. It will be Miss Mary asking, “What happened about a half hour ago? I can’t stop praying for you.”
Cue the Twilight Zone music, please.
Well, suddenly the whole Dorothy/Glinda lingo made sense. It is because my message for Hearts is called A Marriage Made in Oz.
Duh!
When I took the wrap off of the flowers, I nearly fell over. I had just thrown out a bouquet of flowers in the exact same color scheme that I got from helping with our church’s Valentines Day banquet. They were the perfect finishing touch to my Easter decor on my dining room table. I was having my Bible Study gals over and so wanted to run out to the store and purchase a bouquet just like it again but knew we are on a “no spending freeze” due to the extra gas baseball is requiring this spring.. But this arrangement was what God had already planned.
Sweet, yet calorie-free kisses from heaven sent through the promptings of one of God’s girls.
When I called Mary to thank her and tell her of the perfect timing, perfect colors…etc, she just chuckled. She said the Holy Spirit had just given her an urge the night before, “Send Karen flowers. And she has to get them tomorrow.” When she went to pick them out, she was instantly drawn to the type and colors.
Mary, acting in obedience to God’s prompting, completely turned my day around and reassured me that God loves me and understands.
What is God prompting you to do today? For whom?
Do it without delay.
It is so fun seeing God show up!!!
Sweet Weekend Blessings,
Weighing In on Eating Out
Published March 3, 2010Congrats to the winner of the St. Patrick’s Irish Cream almonds and coffee giveaway. It is: Nanette; timestamp March 1st at 4:23 pm. Send me your mailing address at karen@proverbs31.org and let me know if you want the coffee in whole bean or ground. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!
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Welcome Weight Loss Wednesday gals!!!
Today, let’s weigh in on eating out.
Pop quiz time!
You are in a hurry and have to swing by a restaurant to get supper on your way to watch your kid’s ballgame. Which of the following would be the best choice when eating out:
- A bean burrito from Taco Bell
- A McDonald’s chicken sandwich from the dollar menu
- A small bowl of Wendy’s chili
- An oven roasted chicken breast sub on whole wheat with no cheese and only veggies and mustard from Subway
Most people would select the Subway sub. (Jared lost so much weight after all!)
Well, it weighs in at 330 calories and 5 grams of fat.
Perhaps you should choose Mexican instead?
Think again! That bean burrito is 370 calories and 10 grams of fat.
Save money and go for the white-meat chicken perhaps?
Not so fast! That cheap chicken sandwich is a whopping 510 calories and 26 grams of fat.
However, the Wendy’s chili is only 200 calories and 5 grams of fat! And it is also the best choice if you are watching carbs as well.
Well— WLW gals. Today I want you to talk amongst yourselves. What do you order when eating out? Fast food, nice sit-down or even your favorite coffee house drinks. And let us know how your week was too.
Struggles, victories, etc…
I stayed off my scale as planned for the remainder of February. When I hopped back on I had stayed the same. Now that includes the couple pounds I’d gained back so I still feel as if I am in restart mode.
How about you and what do you eat when eating out?
I just love our accountability group! Have a wonderful week everyone!
Sweet Blessings,
A Saint’s Example and a Giveaway!
Published March 1, 2010As a family, we enjoy learning about great missionaries of the faith – whether from the pages of the New Testament and the travels of Paul, or from current day servants who try to spread the wonderful, life-saving news of Jesus in remote places.
Did you know that this month there is another missionary we can glean from as we hear of his longing to reach others for Christ?
I am talking about St. Patrick.
What do we really know of St. Patrick, in who’s honor patrons don green? To look around at the way modern day folk celebrate St. Patrick’s day, you’d think it all had to do with shamrocks, leprechauns, rainbows and the ever famous pot of gold at the end of them. Well, that and the traditional “wearing of the green” to prevent any pinching that might occur on March 17th each year. But there is actually some wonderful truth that we can celebrate at this holiday and can pass along to the children in our lives.
For as far as history can tell, the story goes like this: At about the age of 16, Patrick, a Scottish young man born into wealth sometime in the late fourth century, most likely around 385, was violently captured by Irish raiders and forced into a life of slavery. Patrick later escaped and was reunited with his family, but in a dream, felt called by God back to Ireland to spread Christianity to the people of that isle. So this godly young man set about to make this dream come true.
He prayed for God’s strength and then studied scripture to ready himself. Then He was prepared to return to the land of his captivity. He preached the Gospel and built churches throughout the country until his death on March 17, 461.
For the modern day Irish, St. Patrick’s Day is considered a time for spiritual renewal as they fondly remember the slave-turned-evangelist who spread Christianity to the Emerald Isle. For our family today, we feel we can use him as an example of what a young person, sold out for God can do in their generation.
Just think about this man. How many of us, after being captured and held as a slave and forced to work in a foreign land, when finally set free, would actually return to the very place where we were enslaved? It must have taken a great deal of maturity and immense faith in God’s protection to go back to that island.
And Patrick must have known that spiritual bondage is far, far worse than physical slavery.
In some ways, don’t we see modern day examples of just such a story? The drug addict who finds freedom from a life of addiction through faith in Christ, sensing a call to return to their old neighborhood and preach the freedom and everlasting life Jesus offers. The women who made a bad choice resulting in her and her unborn child both being the victims of abortion. Now she longs to counsel young girls to choose life for themselves and for their precious baby.
All of these people serve as wonderful examples of someone who found freedom and longed to lead others there as well.
So at this time of year, when you spy a leprechaun or see a shamrock, whisper a prayer that God continues to raise up men and women who have been set free to return to the land of their captivity and lead others to the same liberating, life-giving freedom.
And if you want to enter a little giveaway in honor of the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, leave a comment today and you might win a bag of Irish cream and cocoa dusted whole almonds and some of my favorite whole bean Irish cream decaf coffee from Horrock’s Farm Market. (If the winner needs the coffee ground, I’ll grind it for you before I send it)
To enter, simply tell us any of the following:
- Your favorite St. Pat’s tradition or food
- Your favorite shade of green (lime, Kelly, grass, sage….)
- Or, if time is tight, simply say “I’m in!”
The winner will be announced Wednesday morning,
Top-of-the-morning-blessings,
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